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I. BUROKHARDT.

GAR GOUPLING. No. 313,983. Patented Mar. 17,1885! "W v fly/$95.6, I l'nveaataz',

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDRIGH BUROKHARDT, OF ST. CHARLES, MISSOURI.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 313,983, dated March 17, 1885. Application filed J 111v 9, 1 884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDRIOH BUROK- HARDT, of St. Charles, in the county of St. Charles and State of Missouri, have invented acertain new and useful Improvementin Gar- Couplings, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a longitudinal horizontal section taken on line 1 1, Fig. 3, showing the grasping-hooks closed. Fig. 2 is part in top view and part in horizontal section, showing the hooks open. Fig. 3 is a side view, and Fig. 4 is an end view.

My invention relates to those automatic carcouplings which comprise a pair of horizontal hooks adapted to engage an arrow-headed couplingbar; and it consists in features ofnovelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the draw-bars, and Bthe coupling link or bar having round pointed heads 0, as shown. The draw-bars have transverse slots or openings D extending through them, and longitudinal side slots, I, connecting the slots or openings D with the mouths J. The mouths do not extend to the openings D, but webs or thin portions L of the bars are left between them to receive the inner ends of the link when the cars come together to be coupled.

N represents hooks pivoted or hinged in the openings D by pins or bolts 0 on each side and occupying and fitting the side slots, I. They are connected by spiral springs P, that pull their inner ends together, as shown in Fig. 1, pulling them against the side walls of the webs L, which limit their inward movement. It will thus be seen that when the heads of the link or bar enter the mouths of the drawbars the hooks will open to receive them and then close automatically and engage them, (the heads) as shown in Fig. 1. The springs P are protected from being struck by the heads of the link by the webs L. i

To uncouple the cars the hooks are pulled back into the position shown in Fig. 2 by a rock-shaft, T, jonrnaled in suitable boxes secured to the car, and having levers U, by which it is turned. On the shaft are arms V, thelower ends of which are connected by means of links W to ears X on the hooks. As soon as the rock-shaft is released the springs P draw the hooks into their inner position, ready for coupling.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of the draw-head A, having transverse slot D, side slots, I I, month J, and web L, the hooks N N, pins 0 O, by which the hooks are hinged to the draw-head within the transverse slot, and the spiral spring 1?, the web L occupying a central position between the side slots and mouth and transverse slot, the hooks occupying and fitting in the side slots to bear against the side walls of the web, and the spiral spring connecting and drawing the hooks together against the side walls of the web, as set forth.

2. The combination of the draw-head, having transverse slot D, side slots, I I, mouth J, and web L, the hooks N N, pins 0 O, by which the hooks are hinged to the draw-head within the transverse slot, spiral spring P, drawing the hooks together, ears X X on the hooks, links W WV, rock-shaft T, having handles or levers U U, and the arms V V, connecting the rock-shaft to the books, as set forth.

FREDRIGH BUROKHARDT. In presence of- G120. H. KNIGHT, SAML. KNIGHT. 

